Refugee Stories From Seattle-Area USA

Originally published in The Seattle Times by Daniel Beekman, 19 May 2017 —

The national debate over refugees has compelled some Americans to consider their own refugee roots — and speak out. “I’ve never shared to this degree,” said Julie Wong, of Sammamish. Seattle-area residents open up about what it meant to escape from places like Nazi Germany, Vietnam, Bosnia, and what it means now.

Seattle, Washington, USA — The United Nations defines a refugee as someone forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence.

He or she has a well-founded fear of being targeted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.